Bilateral cooperation 34 | In the fight against the financing of terrorism, Liechtenstein-American cooperation in recent years has intensified also at the level of police cooperation and with the Immigration and Passport Office. On 27 June 2012, the Agreement on Enhancing Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Serious Crime was signed in Washington. This agreement is an indispensable prerequisite for continued visa-free entry into the United States by Liechtenstein citizens for purposes of tourism. The agreement was preceded by an agreement on the exchange of data regarding suspected and known terrorists. The United States In recent years, regular visits at the ministerial and official level have taken place in Washington. They make a considerable contribution to the maintenance and strengthening of contacts at all levels. Visits by H.S.H. Reigning Prince Hans-Adam will remain the most II and H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein were of an informal important partner nature. Members of the Executive Board of the Liechtenstein Chamber of Commerce of Liechtenstein and Industry have been travelling to Washington every two years since 2004 in order to exchange ideas and experiences at the appropriate level with representatives of the outside Europe. private and public sector. It is very much appreciated in Washington when members of the private sector visit in addition to Ministers and other public officials. Last May for the first time, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Liechtenstein Parliament headed by President of Parliament Arthur Brunhart paid a working visit to Washington. To institutionalise a group of Members of Congress who know Liechtenstein and consider themselves friends of the country, the Congressional Friends of Liechtenstein Caucus was estab­ lished in 2007. It is composed of 18 US Members of Congress. In 2009, the Caucus submitted a text in the US House of Representatives praising the changes in the Liechtenstein financial centre. This text is available to all Members of Congress as an integral part of the official record and is used by staff members to prepare voting behaviour. After the closure of the institution that had conducted the annual visits by the Members of Congress to Liechtenstein until 2009, the embassy has been looking for a new partner in Washington. The visits to Liechtenstein at the level of groups of Congressional staffers, which have taken place for four years now, have accordingly become even more important. In more than one case, legislative proposals relevant to the financial sector have been positively influenced by members of these groups in the US Congress. Important contacts are also cultivated with Members of Congress in whose electoral districts Liechtenstein industrial companies are located. Only in rare cases do Liechtenstein companies in the United States have to rely on support from the embassy, given that they have been in the US since long before the embassy’s establishment. Contacts have increasingly been institutionalised in recent years. In September 2011, representatives of Liechtenstein companies met for the first time in Washington. In the cultural field, great importance is attached to the good institutionalised contacts with local cultural institutions, including the Goethe Institutes. Recently, the honorary consuls have also proven to be very helpful. An evaluation of the bilateral relations lends itself to the conclusion that Liechtenstein is now considered a reliable partner of the United States with a high quality of cooperation. The pressure to maintain and expand this cooperation will not subside. For the foreseeable future, the United States will remain the most important partner of Liechtenstein outside Europe.